Educational blackboard



Jan. 10, 1950 J SCHATZ 2,494,362

EDUCATIONAL BLACKBOARD Filed July 2, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @y my E19@ IO/I 4e sr I-g 29'( 44 INI/NTOR.

JOSEPH sGHATz ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 10, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE Joseph Schatz, Malden, Mass.

Application July 2, 1946, Serial No. 681,003

2 claims. (c1. as-sz) The present invention relates to an educationalblackboard to enable the user to associate words and pictures and alsoto learn spelling and arithmetic.

In the present invention, at one end of the blackboard, preferably atthe top, there is provided a series of window openings through whichindividual letters, numbers, are displayed. Any letter or number may bebrought before the window by the manipulation of a disc, separate discsserving for each window. At one side of the group of windows there ispositioned a large window through which pictures m'ay be displayed. Theteacher or student can manipulate one of two discs to bring a picturebefore the window and the student may from his position move lettersacross the window until the desired letters are obtained forming anassociation with the picture in the window.

The obj ect of the present invention is to obtain the above ends with asimple and inexpensive mechanism and one which will stand rough usageand not easily get out of order.

In the present invention, it will also beseen that the device isconstructed of a number of pieces, many of which are of a similarnature, and that it is assembled readily and with very little eiort.

' Without further describing the merits, and advantages of the presentinvention, the invention will be more readily described in thespecification below when taken in connection with the drawingsillustrating an embodiment thereof, in whichy Figure 1 shows a frontelevation of the device according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation in the same position of Figure 1 with thefront board of the blackboard removed. t v`Figure 3 is a sectional view,on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view of a detail of the tape unrolled exhibiting numbers,letters and symbols.

Figure 5 is a view of a detail of the tape unrolled on which thepictures are superimposed.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 2 butwithout the front removed.

Figures '7, 8 and 9 are perspective views of further details of themechanism. I In the drawings like numerals in diierent iigures refer tothe same element.

The blackboard is built in the form of a frame, preferably a rectangularframe, comprising four side members, I, 2, 3 and 4. These side membersare yfitted together at the corners preferably by providing shoulders inthe two end sides I and 4 at their ends and fitting the top and bottomsides 2 and 3 as seen in Figure 1 in these shoulders. All of the sidepieces may be similarly grooved to receive the board 5 at the front andthe board 6 at the back, the front groove being indicated by the dottedline 'I, (Figure 2). It will be noted that the back 6 (Figure 3) sets ingrooves 8, 8, in the side pieces I and 4. The front board 5 is providedwith a number of spaced openings, 9, 9, 9, etc., of which six areindicated in Figure 1'. This number may be increased or decreaseddepending on how 'many letters or numerals are to be displayed at once.The openings are preferably aligned on a horizontal line and arepositioned in the upper part of the board. At one side of the line ofopenings or windows is a single large window opening Ill, through whicha figure is displayed. The construction of the mechanism' by which thegures, numbers and symbols and letters are displayed through the windowsis shown clearly in Figure 2 through Figure 9 of the drawings. A stiffwire II is made fast in the side board I of the frame on one end and atthe other end this wire is made fast in a cross supporting board or barI2, (see Figures 2 and 3). Freely rotatable about the smooth wire II area set of spools I3, (see Figures Sand 6) which spools have one large end'I4 and a smallend I5. The spools may be made of wood and covered with arubber tube I6 to provide the desired friction for gripping the tapeupon which the numbers, symbols and letters are printed or written. Thelarge ends of the spools I3 are mounted so that their periphery projectsfor a short arc as indicated at II,`Figure 3, through slots or openingsin the back board 6. As many spools I3 are used as there are windowopenings for the letters, numerals and symbols. The spool I3 is theoperating spool and these are all positioned and aligned at the forwardend of the board normallynearest the user adjacent the chalkand eraserrail I8, (see Figure 6) which may be a part of the bottom board 3.

The tape I9 of letters, numerals and symbols are joined at their ends toform a continuous belt 20, and at the top end of the device, this beltpasses around a second roller 2| which is similarly supported by a wire22 fastened at oneside in the board I, and at the other side in thecross bar or support I2. The roller or spool 2| may be provided with twosimilar end flanges 23, 23, and may also be covered by a rubbertube orhose if desired. The wire 22which should also be taut 5 the other endpassing through the end support of the casing, a belt having charactersappearing thereon attached at each end to said last pair of rollers andknobs attached thereto externally of said case for Winding and unwindingsaid belt, said belt registering with the last mentioned Window, and aplate member positioned and extending in back of said windows andholding said belts to said window, said plate'being recessed in an endWall of the casing and also attached to said cross support.

JOSEP@ SCI-lATZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent;

Number Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Jeffers Jan. 11, 1870Wheeler Apr. 15, 1884 Wyman Dec. 20, 1892 Hooley Mar. 26, 1895 SeilerJune 5, 1900 Prosser Jan. 13, 1903 Barker Sept. 27, 1904 Bracht et alNov. 20, 1917 Phillips July 13, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date GreatBritain Feb. 7, 1891 Great Britain Mar. 27, 1915

